A PROJECT which sends eye doctors from Rochdale to its Pakistani twin town is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month.

Each year since 1992, medical staff have travelled to Sahiwal to perform eye surgery. All funds are raised by volunteers.

About six to eight consultants, nurses and opticians give up a fortnight of their time to work in the town, 100 miles south of Lahore. They have treated an estimated 3,000 people over the past decade.

The scheme is part of the Sahiwal Working Projects, which sends Rochdale professionals to help improve local services.

Abdul Choudry, the former Rochdale councillor who founded the initiative, said the visits had given medical staff in Sahiwal a better understanding of eye surgery.

He said: "In the long run, we want to help the people of Sahiwal help themselves. Many of the people who are treated by the project haven't been able to see their families for years."

Haroon Uddin, an ophthalmolgical nurse at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, has taken part in every eye project trip to Sahiwal.

He said: "Eye treatment isn't all that well developed in Pakistan, and we try to give staff a helping hand. A lot of people come to see us. When they hear we're in the area, we get people arriving from all the surrounding villages."

Councillor John Beasley, who chairs the Sahiwal Working Projects, said the visits would not be possible without the fund-raising efforts of local volunteers.

He said: "All the staff give up their time free, but it costs about £500 to send each of them out there. There are people who work hard to raise that cash."